Chris: Jim, what's your take on Greg Olson's comments regarding Brian Leonard? I have to say, while they are possibly accurate, I found them appallingly unsupportive. With the decimated offense did any of us really expect the rookie Leonard to bust loose? I would have expected a little more support for him from Olson in such a public statement. Is this representative of the type of relationship the coaches have with the players?

Jim Thomas: It's just Olson's personality _ at least what we in the media see from him. He's very matter of fact. He said Leonard played OK, maybe a little better than OK, but could've done some things better.
This is not the little league, where everyone gets a cookie and a soft drink after the game. This is the NFL. And Leonard was a second-round draft pick.

san diego ram: I sent an e-mail last week, but there was no response. Why?

I will say it again, maybe I'll get a response this week. Linehan is a loser. The Rams need someone who knows how to build a winning team - Marty Schottenheimer. I know you say that he's only good for a 10-6 season and first round playoff loss and you're wrong. He took over a 1-15 Charger team and built them into pernnial powerhouse 14-2 team and first round playoff losses. I'll take that every year over the pathetic garbage team the Rams have become since Lovie Smith left. Question: Why don't you support getting rid of Linehan instead of just being resigned to the "fact" that Linehan is here next year because he's got a contract?

Jim Thomas: SD Ram--I try to answer as many of these as I can. And try to put at least a little thought into the answers. Well, the response we've gotten to starting these chats has been unbelievable. I've answered 15 pages worth of questions this week _ and there's still 25 to go.
As for Schottenheimer, if I'm building a team, I'm trying to build a team with someone who can get me to the Super Bowl. I don't think Schottenheimer is that guy. I'm not saying he's a bad coach.
As for "supporting" getting rid of Linehan, I am a beat writer. I am not a columnist. It is not my job to "support" getting rid of anyone. It is my job to report on what is going on with the team for the newspaper and the Stltoday.com internet site. I hope you can appreciate the difference.

Steve: hey jim,

i saw a questionnaire posed to nfl players and st. louis was ranked third to last as a desirable destination to play. how are the rams going to get things turned around quickly when no one wants to come and play for the rams? the draft is one way, but it isn't a quick way. what are your thoughts?

Jim Thomas: Players will follow the money, but also want to play for teams that have a chance to win. Simple as that. I bet in 2000, and 2001, St. Louis was not ranked third-to-last as a desirable destination to play. As for now, with the Rams in a dry spell, they may simply have to overpay a little to get some free agents here.

Guy: Jim,

Looking to lighten the mood - You get to travel on all of the Rams roadtrips and see all the guys in their travel dress, in your opinion who is the best dressed Ram?

Jim Thomas: I don't travel on the same plane as the team. But sometimes I'll see them at the team hotel. Or we'll see them leaving the locker room after the game. Hey, they all make a lot of money, and most of them dress very well. But I really don't pay much attention to that.